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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






2. A harmonic given off by a note when it is played.






3. A short light musical drama.






4. Either of the two octave arrangements in modern music. The modes are either major or minor.






5. A book of text containing the words of an opera.






6. 3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony.






7. The flats and sharps at the beginning of each staff line indicating the key of music the piece is to be played.






8. A 19th century square dance written for 4 couples.






9. The unit of musical rhythm.






10. The distance in pitch between two notes.






11. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.






12. Three to four movement orchestral piece - generally in sonata form.






13. Direction to performer to play a composition in a brisk - lively - and spirited manner.






14. Arrangement of music for a combined number of instruments.






15. An instruction in sheet music to play softly. Abbreviated by a 'p'.






16. A whole note is equal to 2 half notes - 4 quarter notes - 8 eighth notes - etc.






17. A dirge - hymn - or musical service for the repose of the dead.






18. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






19. Music that is written and performed without regard to any specific key.






20. The voice between soprano and alto. Also - in sheet music - a direction for the tempo to be played at medium speed.






21. Lowest female singing voice.






22. The study of forms - history - science - and methods of music.






23. A book of text containing the words of an opera.






24. A musical scale having five notes.For example: the five black keys of a keyboard make up a pentatonic scale.






25. A symbol in sheet music that returns a note to its original pitch after it has been augmented or diminished.






26. Two or more voices or instruments playing the same note simultaneously.






27. Pertains to tone or tones.






28. A musical composition written solely to improve technique. Often performed for artistic interest.






29. Includes all twelve notes of an octave.






30. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






31. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played very slow and serious.






32. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






33. A mild glissando between two notes for an expressive effect.






34. The technique of altering the tone color of a single note or musical line by changing from one instrument to another in the middle of a note or line.






35. A composition written for eight instruments.






36. A harmonic given off by a note when it is played.






37. Indicating speed.






38. A symbol in sheet music a direction to play energetically.






39. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






40. Singing or chanting in unison without strict rhythm. Collected during the Reign of Pope Gregory VIII for psalms and other other parts of the church service.






41. Two or three melodic lines played at the same time.






42. A set of seven musicians who perform a composition written for seven parts.






43. An important characteristic of the Romantic period. It is a style where the strict tempo is temporarily abandoned for a more emotional tone.






44. Movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct.






45. A set of five musicians who perform a composition written for five parts.






46. A period in history during the 18th and early 19th centuries where the focus shifted from the neoclassical style to an emotional - expressive - and imaginative style.






47. Initially an improvised cadence by a soloist; later becoming an elaborate and written out passage in an aria or concerto - featuring the skills of an instrumentalist or vocalist.






48. Music of a particular form consisting of four movements. Each of the movements differ in tempo - rhythm - and melody; but are held together by subject and style.






49. Closing section of a movement.






50. A composition written for a solo instrument. The soloist plays the melody while the orchestra plays the accompaniment.